Description:
Ibibio or Ibibio-Efik is the major member of the Benue-Congo language family called Cross River. The Efik variety has official status.
Ibibio is a dialect cluster spoken by about 3½ million people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River States of Nigeria, making it the fifth largest language cluster in Nigeria after Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, and Kanuri. Specifically, there are 1 million Anaang (as of 1990); 1½ to 2 million Ibibio (1998)—Ibibio is also used as a trade language; a hundred Ukwa (2004); and 400,000 Efik; Efik also has about 2 million second-language speakers. These arguably constitute a single language, though Ethnologue considers them separate languages.
Lower Cross languages hold personal names in common, with a common spelling. These include Essien, Ekanem, Akpanudo, Inyang, Ekpo, Ekpe, Akpabio, Uduak, Ekaette, Akpan, Nyong, Eyo, Ita, Effiong, Udo, Edet, Ima, Nta, Ndon, Okon, Okokon, Edem, Etiyin, Etim, Idiong, Umana (or Umanah), Obot, Ebong, Etuk, Bassey, Nkanga, Imoh, Uko, Oku, Ntuen, Udoma, Attah, Ibok, Ibokette, Ukpana, Etiebet, Eno, Ukeme, Ekpenyong, Ekponyong, Akan, Effiong, Otu, Ekong, Otuekong, Ebewo, Umo (Umoh), Aqua, Ikpoto, Afia, Ndem, Eto, Awak, Ibanga,..... full article at Wikipedia |